Water, water, everywhere!

It’s beyond imagination as to what it must be like in Houston just now!

By writing that sub-heading I am, of course, revealing the fact that Jeannie and I are living a long way from Texas.

But that doesn’t stop our hearts going out to the poor animals who are in the middle of this disaster. Maybe also that doesn’t stop many from extending a helping hand. Here’s how that might be achieved. In that I am republishing an article that appeared on Mother Nature Network on Tuesday.

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How to help pets after a disaster

After Hurricane Harvey’s rain and flooding, many animals are expected to be without homes.
Mary Jo DiLonardo, August 29, 2017.

Naomi Coto carries Simba as they evacuate from their Houston home after flooding from Hurricane Harvey. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

After Hurricane Harvey battered Texas and Louisiana, residents are rushing to recover yet facing catastrophic rain, flooding and evacuations. While many residents headed for safety with their pets in tow, plenty of animals either escaped or were left behind. Animal rescue and shelter administrators say it’s still too early to estimate how many animals are struggling to find their way home.

Shelters in nearby areas unaffected by the storm took in animals from evacuated facilities. The Humane Society of North Texas, for example, made room for 22 animals from a shelter in Corpus Christi that had to shut down.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a disaster response team on the ground offering search and rescue, sheltering and relocation services for animals displaced by the storm.

The ASPCA reports, “Emergency response agencies are receiving a high number of requests for animal-related rescue, and are conducting responsible assessments to determine where resources can be utilized most effectively. The ASPCA stands ready to assist where our resources can have the most impact in saving lives and helping to reunite pets with their families. Residents who need assistance with recovering a pet from their home or emergency sheltering for their pets are encouraged to contact their local emergency management agency.”

With so much of the storm’s impact in the Houston area, the Houston SPCA has become a central hub for animal-related needs. Because the storm is still pounding, the SPCA is unsure how strong its impact will be on the area pet population, but the group is fielding offers from individuals and rescue groups willing to donate or transport and foster displaced animals. While needs are still being assessed, one way to help is through direct donations.

How to help animals in any emergency

Two pups rest after being rescued in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. (Photo: Austin Pets Alive!)

After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, an estimated 15,000 pets were rescued by the New Orleans SPCA, as volunteers scooped cats and dogs off rooftops, out of the water and from flooded streets, reports CNN. However, a whopping 90,000 area pets were never accounted for with some sources saying an estimated 600,000 dogs and cats were displaced or died as a result of the storm.

As animal lovers all over the country saw images of abandoned pets, they wanted to help. People sent money and rescue groups transported unclaimed pets to shelters and new homes. Those are some of the things you can do to help when disaster strikes.

Donate money. Teams from the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States head to areas after disasters to help with transport, rescue and other needs. Donate to them directly, or go online to find shelters directly impacted by the event.

Contact local shelters to see what they need. Some might want local volunteers or item donations, while others may prefer monetary aid. Rescue groups outside the area can contact individual shelters or other local rescue groups to see if there are pets ready to be taken to new homes. Early on, there will likely be temporary shelters set up in hopes that some animals may be claimed by their owners, so rescue groups might not be needed right away.

Be willing to foster. After large disasters, shelters brace for a high volume of new animals. Some shelters might be looking for short-term fosters to care for the animals that were already in their care before the storm hit or to take care of owned pets while the families recover from damage and get back on their feet.
How to protect your pet:

Looking ahead, there are things you can to do be prepared with your pet before disaster strikes, says the ASPCA:

Microchip your pets. Collars and tags can get lost, but it’s easier for rescue workers to help pets reunite with their owners if they are chipped and the information is updated.

Have a go-bag for your pet. Have it packed with leashes, medical info, food, water and anything else your pet needs and keep it by the door.

Download the ASPCA’s free mobile app for your smartphone. It stores your pet’s records and offers tips on what to do if you get separated from your pet.

If you have to evacuate, take your pet with you. Some emergency shelters allow pets. In 2006, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, which authorized FEMA to rescue, care, shelter and take care of people with pets and service animals. About 44 percent of the people who didn’t evacuate during Katrina stayed because they didn’t want to leave their pets behind, according to a report by the Fritz Institute.

Dog carrying bag of food turns out to be the hero Texas neededIn times like these, even ordinary creatures do extraordinary things.

In troubled times, we all look to heroes to step up and lead us from a dark place to one of hope. And in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which battered and then flooded much of southeast Texas over the weekend, we didn’t have to wait long. Countless everyday Texans have risked their own lives to haul people and pets out of the affected areas.

But Otis may be the unlikeliest hero of all.

After all, he wasn’t exactly leaping into the breach when Tiele Dockens snapped this picture over the weekend. Nor was the golden retriever hauling anyone out of danger.

Instead, Otis was carrying cargo that was precious mostly to him: a big bag of dog food. And he was just trying to get it home.

But there was something about that picture — a humble family pet clinging tightly to his one precious possession, despite the chaos all around.A new survival icon emerges

Since Dockens posted the image on Facebook — a photo snapped while she was taking stock of the flood-wracked city of Sinton — the post has been shared more than 35,000 times.

“We are a population of about 6,000,” Dockens told the Weather Channel. “We were out today clearing tree limbs from streets. Families are already starting to clean up. Our town is still out of water and power. I was driving around checking on family and friends’ properties that decided to evacuate.”

Then she spotted Otis.

“With his dog food of course,” Dockens added.

It turned out, the man taking care of Otis, who belonged to his grandson, had been looking for the furry refugee who had slipped out of a screened-in back porch on Friday night.

“I kept yelling his name and yelling his name and he wasn’t around,” Segovia told the Houston Chronicle.

Amid devastating floods, with countless family pets already missing, the situation could have taken a dark turn. But not long after he was photographed high-tailing it down a city street, Otis found his way back home.

And, along the way, into the hearts of millions.

Sure, images of ordinary people doing extraordinary things can be a powerful cure for despair. And right now, Texas needs all the heroes it can get.

But sometimes, we need a simple reminder from our four-legged friends that they are in this mess, too. They’re trying to get by one way or another. And if that happens to involve looting — err, retrieving — a bag of food, then this is a survivor’s tale worth cheering for.

Please, please if there is anything that you can do to help alleviate what the animals are experiencing please do so.

Thank you for sharing, this is in deed a very difficult situation. Hope you don’t mind that I share this here, but we are getting ready to take in some of the pups in need.

There are hundreds of dogs that will be coming from Texas to NJ and we have been asked to help by taking some of them. Our supplies are extremely low and without help from our supporters we cannot take any more pups.

URGENT PLEA FOR SUPPLIES! We are low on everything and financially tapped out! Here at Paws Give Me Purpose the dogs come first! We cannot rescue or even foster more dogs without your support. Please consider making a donation, no amount is too small. We also have a wishlist at the Help Save Lives link of our website. Anything is greatly appreciated!

Nice post about the plight of pets and people. Otis the dog is well known in the small town of Sinton. He visits around on his own, He is used to getting treats from his human friends. It is believed that he went to a familiar local store and when he found the doors open he walked in and grabbed a bag of Ole Roy which is by the way, a Walmart brand. He was acquired as a puppy from a man that was trying to get rid of the last dog in a litter of puppies. He is one smart dog. It warms the heart to see and read about stories like this one.

The pic of the young lady that is carrying her dog across her shoulders shows how much folks love their animals. The flood has made me so depressed. Any of us could be in that situation and if we are high and dry then we all should be thankful.

I live just 200 miles north of Houston. I feel vey lucky and blessed and my heart bleeds for the people that lost their lives, those that lost everything and the pets that also were left behind and those that died. I wish that I could help but at my age all I can do is donate and that will be to the Salvation Army and a shelter in Belton and Austin. These are taking in animals from the coast. There are others of course but these are of my choosing.

Paul, being that I live in MS, I am fairly close to these frequent disasters. My wife and I were just discussing getting a jet drive outboard and rear pontoons on my jonboat to have on standby for animal rescue efforts. If I started a GoFundMe to cover the costs do you think people would actually donate…? I would be able to respond within hours of any flood disaster…

Sorry for the delay in responding; we had to take Ruby back to the vet this morning.

To address your fundamental question, regarding the GoFundMe campaign, all I can add is try it and see what happens. I have no specific knowledge or expertise. However, I would be honoured to feature that campaign here.

In reply to “The Goose.” I think your idea is a lovely one. Give Go Fund Me a try, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I would suggest that you establish a site on FB so that you can acquire followers. Post interesting pics of dogs and cats and join any pet group that is legit. I joined several on FB simply because I enjoy reading and can at times give good advice to folks that are in dire straights re: a pet that has a particular illness that I am familiar with. I have been doing self funded ( do not have a non-profit) pet rescue for years, mainly feral cats. I have 7 rescue dogs plus now caring for my sis’s dog after my sis had a stroke and went to a nursing home. If you put your name out there folks will know who you are and that you are sincere and honest.

I think you also should mention it on your blog and that was some folks might donate from that avenue. I’m not familiar with your blog but I’ll hop over there in a bit.

Yes, so many thoughts and prayers go out to those suffering in the floods in Texas,, And the wildlife too.. Not forgetting the impact of the Monsoon in Asia.. And the 1,200 lives lost in resent rains, and the 40 million homes affected.. So many disasters due to flooding now..